You should never give a human drug to your pet animal unless your veterinarian advises you to do so.

Of course most drugs that are prescribed for animals by veterinarians are the same (or similar) drugs that physicians prescribe for human ailments - but there are huge differences in the way that different species of animal deal with a drug once it is their system. So, some drugs that are safe to use in humans are positively dangerous to give to pets and other animals.

A well-known example of this is aspirin, which if given at human dose rates, can easily cause toxicity in both dogs and cats because they cannot detoxify and eliminate it from their bodies as quickly as humans can. The result is a severe gastroenteritis - which may cause them to vomit blood.

There are literally hundreds of examples of human prescription drugs which can cause toxicity to dogs, cats or other pets. Other common medicines and so called social "drugs" which definitely should not be given by owners to their pets are:

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The information on Health24 is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional. See additional information.